KR102668943B1 - Head Lamp System using collimated laser light sources and Nano scale 4-levels Diffractive Optical Elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adaptive headlamp system for vehicles using a collimated laser light source and a diffractive optical element with a nano-level four-layer structure. More specifically, it relates to a laser light source (10) in which R, G, and B light sources are installed in parallel. ) light is collimated into parallel light by the collimation lens 20, and then PR ( Photoresist) is diffused by a pattern having a nano-level four-layer structure formed by direct etching to implement a low beam with an optical image that is asymmetrical up, down, left, and right at the target position, and the diffraction optical element 30 It divides the light image of the low beam into multiple modes to vary depending on the driving situation and adaptively implements the optimal low beam according to the driving situation of the vehicle, thereby ensuring safe driving of the vehicle and having a simple structure. It is characterized by simple maintenance and excellent efficiency and performance reliability.

Description

Adaptive headlamp system for vehicles using collimated laser light sources and nano scale 4-levels Diffractive Optical Elements}

The present invention uses a collimated laser light source and a nano-level diffractive optical element with a four-layer structure to implement an optimal low beam according to the driving situation of the vehicle. This relates to an adaptive headlamp system for vehicles using a diffractive optical element with a four-layer structure.

In the front of the vehicle, headlights are installed on the left and right sides to ensure the driver's forward vision even when driving at night.

Conventionally, headlights for vehicles have mainly used bulb-type lamps, but recently, High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps, LED lamps, etc. have been widely used.

These conventional headlights for vehicles are set to high beam or low beam depending on the angle of light irradiation. In the case of the above high beam, the driver's field of view is secured to a relatively long distance in front of the vehicle, allowing the driver to drive safely at night, but it may cause dazzle to the driver of the vehicle coming from the opposite direction or the driver of the vehicle in front, and in the case of the low beam, Although glare to the driver of the vehicle coming from the opposite direction or the driver of the vehicle in front can be reduced, there is a problem in securing the driver's field of vision compared to high beams.

Accordingly, efforts have recently been made to implement low beams and improve the driver's forward perception ability according to the surrounding environment. As a result, the vehicle's driving conditions, road conditions, environmental conditions, etc. An adaptive front lighting system (AFLS) that changes the width and length of the headlamp light is being applied.

However, the conventional adaptive headlight device has a complicated structure, has low light efficiency, and has had difficulties in maximizing the safe operation of the vehicle due to technical limitations that prevent it from realizing optimal low beam.

Publication Patent No. 10-2016-0123166 (October 25, 2016) Registered Patent No. 10-1445274 (September 22, 2014) Publication Patent No. 10-2010-0010266 (February 1, 2010)

The present invention was invented to solve all the problems of the prior art described above, and uses a collimated laser light source and a diffractive optical element with a nano-level four-layer structure to create a low-beam light image that is asymmetrical up, down, left, and right. The purpose is to implement an optimal low beam adaptively according to the vehicle's driving situation.

The present invention includes a laser light source that irradiates laser light, a collimation lens that collimates the light of the laser light source into parallel light, and the collimated light of the laser light source that is diffused by a pattern having a four-layer structure at least at the nano level. It is composed of a diffractive optical element (DOE) that implements an optical image that is asymmetrical up, down, left, and right as a low beam. The laser light source is equipped with R, G, and B light sources in parallel, and the diffraction optical element changes depending on the driving situation of the vehicle. In order to implement different optical images, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd diffractive optical elements, divided into at least one mode, are installed in parallel to correspond to the R, G, and B light sources, and the low beam optical image is irradiated in a mode suitable for the vehicle's driving situation. It is configured to, and the diffractive optical element is,
( Minimum Pixel Size, is the reference wavelength of the laser light source, It is characterized by being configured to satisfy the resolution conditions of the left and right diffusion angles of the diffractive optical element in front of the vehicle.

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〈 레이져 광원 상향 6°의 조건을 만족하도록 구성함에 그 특징이 있다.According to the present invention, the optical axis of the laser light source has a vertical (y) angle formed between the HV axis of the vehicle beam and is 3°〜 upward from the laser light source.

〈 Its characteristic is that it is configured to satisfy the condition of 6° upward angle of the laser light source.

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In the present invention, the light of a laser light source in which R, G, and B light sources are installed in parallel is collimated into parallel light by a collimation lens, and then applied to a 3-layer mask or a diffractive optical element (DOE). A low beam with an optical image that is asymmetrical up, down, left and right is created at the target location by diffusing a pattern with a nano-level four-layer structure formed by direct etching of PR (photoresist) using an electron beam (E-beam). However, the diffractive optical element divides the light image of the low beam into a plurality of modes to vary depending on the driving situation, and adaptively implements the optimal low beam according to the driving situation of the vehicle, thereby ensuring safe operation of the vehicle. In addition to achieving this, the simple structure makes maintenance simple and provides excellent efficiency and performance reliability.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the headlamp of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing another embodiment of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view showing the pattern of the diffractive optical device of the present invention and its partially enlarged structure.
Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views showing examples of enlarged images of the pattern in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a simulation diagram of a light image by the headlamp of the present invention.
Figures 7 and 8 are front views showing various embodiments of the adaptive diffractive optical device of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a side configuration diagram showing an example of mode selection operation in the diffractive optical element of Figures 7 and 8.
Figure 10 is a configuration diagram showing the vertical irradiation angle of the headlamp beam of the present invention.
Figure 11 is a configuration diagram showing the left and right irradiation angles of the headlamp beam of the present invention.
Figure 12 is a main configuration diagram showing an example of low beam irradiation of a vehicle to which the present invention is applied.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention described above will be examined in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The adaptive headlamp system for a vehicle using a collimated laser light source and a diffractive optical element having a nano-level four-layer structure according to the present invention includes a laser light source 10, a collimation lens 20, and a laser light source 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 12. It is composed of diffractive optical elements (DOE; Diffractive Optical Elements) (30).

Figure 1 is an embodiment of irradiating an optical image according to the present invention directly to a target in front of a vehicle, and Figure 2 is an embodiment of irradiating an optical image to a target in front of a vehicle by reflecting it by a reflector.

The laser light source 10 is an LD (Laser diode) that irradiates laser light.

The collimation lens 20 is configured to collimate the light from the laser light source into parallel light.

The Diffractive Optical Elements (DOE) 30 diffuse the light from the collimated laser light source in a pattern with a nano-level four-layer structure to produce an optical image that is asymmetrical up, down, left and right at the target location as a low beam. Configure it to do so.

The pattern of the diffractive optical element 30 is configured to form a pattern with a nano-level four-layer structure using a 3-layer mask or a PR (photoresist) direct etching method using an electron beam (E-beam).

In the case of the 3-layer mask, a 1-layer single-layer mask can create an optical image that is symmetrical up, down, left, and right, but cannot create an asymmetric image. In addition, an optical image that is asymmetrical up, down, left, and right can be realized by using a 2-layer or more laminated mask. The optical performance is about 64% with a 2-layer laminated mask, and a 3-layer laminated mask has an optical performance of about 64%. Since the optical performance can be achieved at about 75% with a laminated mask, it is desirable to apply a laminated mask of at least 3 layers.

The diffractive optical element (DOE) 30 using the 3-layer mask has a nano-level 4-layer structure through an exposure process on the 3-layer laminated mask, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. It forms a pattern.

And the diffractive optical element 30 is designed so that the low beam light image is implemented with an 8-bit LID (Light Intensity Distribution) as shown in the example in FIG. 6, where the center is white and becomes darker toward the outside, making it the lowest color. It is configured to express 256 color levels with black outlines.

In particular, the laser light source 10 of the present invention is installed in parallel with the R, G, and B light sources 11, 12, and 13, and the diffraction optical element 30 changes the light image depending on the driving situation of the vehicle. The first, second, and third diffractive optical elements (31) (32) (33), divided into at least one mode, are installed in parallel to correspond to the R, G, and B light sources (11) (12) (13) to implement the vehicle. It is configured to irradiate the low beam optical image in a mode suitable for the driving situation.

At this time, the first, second, and third diffractive optical elements 31, 32, and 33 are configured to variously classify the lens portion depending on the driving situation. As shown in FIG. 7, the general (C ), high speed (E), urban area (V), wet road (W), etc., or 50 or 60 Km/h (V) or less, 60 Km/h (C) depending on the vehicle speed as shown in Figure 8. ), automatic detection of wet roads and window cleaning in modes such as 80Km/h (E3), 90Km/h (E2), 100Km/h (E1), 110Km/h (E), implemented in W mode when operated for more than 2 minutes It can be formed as separately as possible, and can be configured to be divided into various modes to implement the optimal low beam light image suitable for the driving situation.

In addition, the diffractive optical element 30 of the present invention additionally requires the following conditions to improve performance.

The diffractive optical element 30 is as shown in FIG. 11,

(

의 최소 Pixel 크기,

는 레이져 광원의 기준 파장,

는 차량 전방에서 회절 광학 소자의 좌우 확산 각도)의 해상력 조건을 만족하도록 구성하는 것이다.

(

Minimum Pixel Size,

is the reference wavelength of the laser light source,

is configured to satisfy the resolution condition of the left and right diffusion angles of the diffractive optical element in front of the vehicle.

if,

이다.

am.

If the diffractive optical element does not satisfy the above conditions, the scale dimensions of the target source and the resulting LID (Light Intensity Distribution) do not match each other, causing poor performance of the headlamp.

)이 성능 향상을 위해 다음과 같은 조건이 요구된다.(도 10 참조)In addition, the laser light source 10 of the present invention has a vertical (y) angle formed between the optical axis (S1) and the HV axis (S2) of the vehicle beam (

) The following conditions are required to improve this performance (see Figure 10).

〈 레이져 광원 상향 6°의 조건을 만족하도록 구성하는 것이다. 이로 인해 제어 가능한 광 범위가 거울 잔상 포함해서 6°〈2

〈 12°의 조건을 만족하게 되는 것이다.The optical axis of the laser light source has a vertical (y) angle formed between the HV axis of the vehicle beam and is 3°〈 upward from the laser light source.

< It is configured to satisfy the condition of 6° upward angle of the laser light source. This results in a controllable optical range of 6°〈2 including mirror afterimage.

<The condition of 12° is satisfied.

If the included angle is less than 3°, an eye safety problem occurs due to a hot spot due to a defect in the diffractive optical element 30 or when the diffractive optical element 30 falls off due to vibration. In addition, eye safety issues may arise due to a hot spot within 10cm horizontally in front of 2M or a hot spot within 1.5M vertically (above the road) from 25M in front. This happens (see Figure 12).

In addition, an afterimage peculiar to the diffractive optical element 30 occurs above the cut-off line as shown in the figure above, preventing low beam conditions from being satisfied.

Here, as a condition for satisfying the basic technical specifications, if the design is made with the H-V axis (S2) above the optical axis (S1) of the laser light source 10, an afterimage is generated below the optical axis of the laser light source, and the afterimage is distributed as light. It will help with the conditions.

In addition, when the included angle is greater than 6°, the vertical angle of the entire main design beam, including afterimages excluding stray light, increases to more than 12°, deteriorating the straightness and focusing quality of the beam. In this case, the maximum brightness contrast ratio is specified. Phase 125: It becomes difficult to ensure the safety of a low beam system exceeding 1 (conditions of 50 Lux or less and 0.4 Lux or less at 25M in front).

Meanwhile, in the present invention, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, a reflector 40 is further installed in front of the diffractive optical element 30 to reflect diffused light forward, but the reflector 40 reflects parallel light rather than diffused light. A safety sensor 45 is installed to detect any abnormality in the diffraction optical element by detecting the light irradiated with the light. This is to automatically detect any abnormalities in the diffractive optical element by the safety sensor 45, so that problems with the diffractive optical element can be quickly addressed.

The adaptive headlamp system for a vehicle of the present invention collimates the light of the laser light source 10, in which R, G, and B light sources are installed in parallel, into parallel light by the collimation lens 20, and then uses a diffractive optical element (DOE; In Diffractive Optical Elements, it is diffused by a 3-layer mask or a pattern with a nano-level 4-layer structure formed by direct PR (photoresist) etching using an electron beam (E-beam) to create a top-bottom, left-right ratio at the target location. A symmetrical light image is implemented as a low beam, and the diffractive optical element 30 is divided into a plurality of modes to vary the light pattern depending on the driving situation of the vehicle, providing optimal low beam according to the driving situation of the vehicle. By adaptively implementing low beam, it promotes safe operation of the vehicle, and the simple structure greatly improves maintenance, efficiency, and performance reliability.

10: Laser light source
11,12,13: R,G,B light sources
20: Collimation lens
30: Diffractive optical element
31,32,33: 1st, 2nd, 3rd diffractive optical elements
40: reflector
45: Safety sensor

Claims (5)

A laser light source 10 that irradiates laser light,
A collimation lens 20 that collimates the light of the laser light source into parallel light, and
It is composed of a diffractive optical element (DOE) 30 that diffuses the light of the collimated laser light source by a pattern having at least a four-layer structure at the nano level to implement a light image that is asymmetrical up, down, left, and right as a low beam,
The laser light source 10 includes R, G, and B light sources 11, 12, and 13 installed in parallel,
The diffractive optical element 30 includes first, second, and third diffractive optical elements 31, 32, and 33 that are divided into at least one mode to implement different optical images depending on the driving situation of the vehicle. It is installed in parallel to correspond to the B light source (11) (12) (13) and is configured to irradiate the light image of the low beam in a mode suitable for the driving situation of the vehicle.
The diffractive optical element 30 is,
( Minimum Pixel Size, is the reference wavelength of the laser light source, is an adaptive headlamp system for vehicles using a collimated laser light source and a diffractive optical element with a nano-level four-layer structure, which is configured to satisfy the resolution conditions of the left and right diffusion angles of the diffractive optical element in front of the vehicle.

delete delete A laser light source 10 that irradiates laser light,
A collimation lens 20 that collimates the light of the laser light source into parallel light,
It is composed of a diffractive optical element (DOE) 30 that diffuses the light of the collimated laser light source by a pattern having at least a four-layer structure at the nano level to implement a light image that is asymmetrical up, down, left, and right as a low beam,
The laser light source 10 includes R, G, and B light sources 11, 12, and 13 installed in parallel,
The diffractive optical element 30 includes first, second, and third diffractive optical elements 31, 32, and 33 that are divided into at least one mode to implement different optical images depending on the driving situation of the vehicle. It is installed in parallel to correspond to the B light source (11) (12) (13) and is configured to irradiate the light image of the low beam in a mode suitable for the driving situation of the vehicle.
The optical axis of the laser light source has a vertical (y) angle formed between the HV axis of the vehicle beam,
Laser light source upward 3°〈

〈 Adaptive headlamp system for vehicles using a collimated laser light source configured to satisfy the condition of 6° upward angle of the laser light source and a diffractive optical element with a nano-level four-layer structure. delete

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